Police in the Poltava region exposed four men on suspicion of growing cannabis and selling cannabis.[1][2] Three of the suspects were residents of Poltava region and one was a resident of Kirovohrad region.[1][2] Investigators say the men were active from June to October 2026.[1][2] The men grew cannabis plants on the household plot of one group member in Kremenchuk district.[1][2]

The group tended the bushes by watering, weeding and treating them with chemicals to make them grow faster.[3][2] The harvested plants were taken to a garage used by one of the men.[1][2] There the cannabis was dried, crushed and packed into polymer bags.[1][2] The finished cannabis was sold directly to buyers hand to hand.[1][2] Searches of the suspects’ homes and cars seized more than 70 kilograms of cannabis plus electronic scales, packing materials and other evidence.[1][2]

All four group members were notified of suspicion according to their alleged roles.[1][2] They face counts of repeated large-scale manufacture, storage and transport of drugs for sale by a conspiring group, and of growing 50 or more cannabis plants by a conspiring group for sale.[1][2] A court placed the suspects in custody at the investigators’ request.[1][4][2]

The pre-trial investigation and operational support in the case are run by the regional police investigators together with the strategic investigations department, under the Poltava regional prosecutor’s office.[4]